Cape Abilities gets a slice of the pie (company)

Friday

Take one nonprofit with more than four decades of helping Cape Codders with disabilities, add a faith-based foundation with a mission to help less fortunate people help themselves and a new company growing by leaps and bounds with the help of international exposure; mix well and enjoy.

Take one nonprofit with more than four decades of helping Cape Codders with disabilities, add a faith-based foundation with a mission to help less fortunate people help themselves and a new company growing by leaps and bounds with the help of international exposure; mix well and enjoy.

It’s a recipe with origins tied to the inauguration of President Barack Obama and one of his biggest supporters, although the combination of ingredients that brought it together could hardly have been imagined 12 months ago.

Earl Stafford, founder of the Reston, Va.-based Stafford Foundation, toured the Independence Park headquarters of Cape Abilities Jan. 6 to see the organization he hosted in Washington, D.C., at the People’s Inaugural. The Stafford Foundation provided more than $19,000 to equip Cape Abilities with new equipment for its latest venture: The Centerville Pie Co. kitchen.

The kitchen opened in October in response to the company’s need to expand, which was a direct result of Oprah Winfrey.

The Centerville Pie Co. became an international story, following a large order placed to it by Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey was on Cape for the funeral of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and company owners Laurie Bowen and Kristen Broadley decided to send the reigning queen of media a couple of pies. That turned into a parting order as Oprah flew out of Hyannis.

Long story short, the story got out, people around the world learned of Oprah’s ringing endorsement and things got very busy for the Centerville shop.

The owners said that as Oprah was brought to the Cape to honor Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics, partnering with Cape Abilities completed the circle.